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We missed the Royal Style: Qing Dynasty and Western Court Jewelry exhibition at the National Palace Museum in Taipei. Fortunately Leo Abaya visited the museum in June and we asked him to order the exhibition catalogue for us. After a two-month wait, the very heavy book mailed out of Taiwan finally arrived at the post office.

After poring over the catalogue we’re even sorrier that we didn’t see the actual exhibition. The pieces on display were selected from three collections: the Qing imperial ornaments from the National Palace Museum, the last emperor Puyi’s collection in the Shenyang Palace Museum, and Cartier’s modern jewelry collection. One need not be into alahas to marvel at the exquisite craftsmanship and splendor of the artifacts. Everything about them spells power.

Pair of earrings decorated with bamboo leaves in kingfisher feather
Qing dynasty, Tongzhi reign (1862-1874)
2.5 x 1.8 cm
Gilt silver, kingfisher feathers, pearls
National Palace Museum, Taipei

Pair of earrings decorated with Chinese crabapple blossoms
Qing dynasty, Tongzhi reign (1862-1874)
2.8 x 4.1 cm
Gilt copper, spinels, coral, tiny pearls, kingfisher feathers
National Palace Museum, Taipei

Pair of earrings decorated with glass-inlaid flowers
Qing dynasty, Tongzhi reign (1862-1874)
3.9 x 2.3 cm
Gilt, silver, glass, enamel
National Palace Museum, Taipei
These photos are photos of the exhibition catalogue.

Royal Style is on view until 9 September so if you’re in Taipei be sure to visit the National Palace Museum. Security is tight, understandably, and Leo reports that if you linger too long before a display a museum guard will start hovering around you.